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Lima
Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rimac and Lurin rivers, on a coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It forms a contiguous urban area with the seaport of Callao. Lima is the 5th largest city in Latin America, behind Mexico City, Säo Paulo, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535, as La Ciudad de los Reyes, or "The City of Kings." It became the most important city in the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru and, after the Peruvian War of Independence, was made the capital of the Republic of Peru. Today around one-third of the Peruvian population lives in the metropolitan area, its university (founded 1551) is the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. Lima is the site of most of Peru's manufacturing industries. Callao, on the Pacific coast is Lima's port. Population over 6 million.
Our sightseeing in Lima included the Museo de la Nacion, containing exhibits of Peru's archaeology and history. The Museo de Oro del Peru is actually two museums. The bottom half, in the basement, contains thousands of gold exhibits, as well as artefacts made of silver or precious stones. The top half is the Museo de Armas, and we were told is one of the best arms museums in the world. Another interesting museum is the Museo del tribunal de la Santa Inquisicion. This building was used by the Spanish Inquisition from 1570 to 1820. We could see the torture basement and waxwork renditions of people on racks, and so on. The cathedral of Lima, on the Plaza de Armas, from the 1500's and destroyed by earthquakes and rebuilt many times. Housed in the cathedral are the remains of the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro. The catacombs of the Monasterio de San Francisco contains the bones of thousands. We visited the monastery, the catacombs, library and cloister and a religious art museum. The Mercado Central market stalls and vendors fill the streets for several blocks around. Around the Plaza Mayor are several impressive buildings, like the beautiful, Palacio Arzobispal, and the Palacio de Gobierno, both dating from the early 1900's. The ceremonial changing of the guards at the Palacio de Gobierno takes place sometime before 12, midday. A nice fountain from the 17th century and recently restored, and the Monumento de Francisco Pizarro. Five blocks of pedestrian mall connect the Plaza Mayor with Plaza San Martin. Along the mall are jewellery stores, bookshops and cinemas and is always crowded with tourists, shoppers. In the Plaza San Martin is a bronze statue of the liberator General Jose de San Martin.
2002
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